About the Project
Collegedale – a place of scenic mountain landscapes, the tranquility of Happy Valley and the hum of rumbling trains; a place of perpetual traditional values, community pride and Southern hospitality.
But how will the city look, feel and change over the next five to 10 years?
Boasting a population of 11,000, this sleepy college town is the fastest growing part of Hamilton County, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. And, while growth might offer some advantages, such as increased tax revenue, more businesses, higher property values and better housing options, it also poses challenges for the community, including:
- The proliferation of housing developments in rural areas
- Traffic congestion on narrow neighborhood roadways
- Infrastructure inadequate for the growing population
As students in the W25 Interactive Journalism class at Southern Adventist University, we aim to tell the compelling story of Collegedale’s rapid growth, exploring where people are coming from, why they are moving here, how the community is impacted and what leaders are doing to manage the growth, all within the historical context of the city’s small-town roots.
Listen to the students share about their expectations for the project:
This project – led by professors Alva James-Johnson and Ryan Harrell in partnership with the Southern Accent – will result in an interactive website with loads of information. Along the way, we will update you – our audience – on our findings through weekly postings on this blog and social media. So please look for our posts on the Southern Accent Instagram and Facebook accounts.
To get started, please read our team-member profiles on this platform or jump directly to the final project below.
About the Team
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Cindy Hernandez: Between Two Cultures
Hey there! My name is Cindy Hernandez. I was born in Texas, but I spent much of my childhood in Mexico, which makes Spanish my first language. I moved to Houston TX for high school when I was 15, and it was there that my love for communication work truly started. Growing up between two…
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Eliana Morales: Navigating Young Adulthood in Collegedale
Hi! My name is Eliana Morales. I am a junior at Southern studying mass communication with an emphasis in writing and editing. My current hobbies include journaling, cooking, reading and music. The Collegedale Growth project is important to me because I plan to continue living here after graduation. As I spend my days on campus,…
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Alissa Flores: Turning Back the Pages
Hey everyone! My name is Alissa Flores. I am a senior studying journalism and public relations at Southern Adventist University. My passion is soccer, but some of my hobbies include writing, working out, traveling, and media. I am originally from upstate New York, but I moved to Crossville, Tennessee, when I was 13. Despite my…
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Nyah Jackson: Trying Something New
Hello, my name is Nyah Jackson! I am a junior Journalism major with minors in public relations and advertising at Southern Adventist University. For all of my life I have been known to keep to myself. I have never been fond of going outside my comfort zone. However, I have always loved learning new things…
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Hayden Kobza: Investigating the Unknown
My name is Hayden Kobza, and I am a junior journalism major at Southern Adventist University. I currently work as the managing editor for the Southern Accent, our college newspaper. My love of journalism stems from a childhood curiosity about discovering the unknown and forgotten. Outside of writing for the Southern Accent, the student newspaper…
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Anaya Parker: Growing with Collegedale
Hello there! My name is Anaya Parker, and I’m a journalism major with an emphasis in digital broadcasting. I’m a passionate actor, writer, and reader. I chose journalism because it allows me to share people’s stories and make a positive impact. I’ve been writing since I was a kid, and my mom is an author,…